Touring - New Eyes and New Lands; What Brings About New Seeing with New Eyes?

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Niles H.
11-07-12, 08:48 AM
'The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in seeing with new eyes.'

Whether the physical landscape is new or old, seeing with new eyes can play a very major and determining role in the quality of how it is experienced. And whether the path or the road, or the scenery, or the bike, is 'great' in itself or 'ordinary,' how it is seen and related to can make for significant, or even dramatic changes.

What is it to see with new eyes -- what does it mean, what brings it about -- and where and how far can that voyage of discovery be taken?

Rowan
11-07-12, 11:28 PM
Tell us, Niles, your stories. How have you seen things on your cycling tours with new eyes, and what has it brought about for you. You know, just a few examples so we can get a feel for how the thread should go. Pictures of you and your adventures and a bit about why they were quality experiences would be good, too. :)
fietsbob
11-08-12, 12:51 AM
:50: Cataract removal, or Lasix ? Its an age thing..

perspiration
11-08-12, 10:02 PM
I find that by keeping myself acutely aware of my surroundings, I can find a lot of small joys that I'd have missed otherwise. I practice this by listening to every sound I can.

If you're in the woods, start with the most apparent sounds: wind, tree leaves, traffic, maybe the sounds of your feet or tires hitting the ground. Next, move deeper. Listen to smaller sounds, like birds chirping, or a leaf hitting the ground from a tree. Try to see if you can hear things rustling around, or even a small piece of your gear clicking about that you weren't listening to. Try to keep listening deeper and finding sounds that you weren't hearing just a second ago.

I find, that after a few minutes of doing things, I'm not only hearing but seeing things I wasn't before. A swirl of wind through the grass. A tiny animal darting out of the brush. The very instant the sun ducks behind a cloud. The play of a shadow or a certain splash of color. And, I find, I'm enjoying myself on a much deeper level.

In short, if you're getting tired of your surroundings and need a fresh pair of eyes, stand there for a moment until you experience something you hadn't, and realize how much depth there is right where you stand. You might find the next few miles much easier pedaling.